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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees smiles on the sideline during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 26, 2011. Rusty Costanza, Associated Press
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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees passes during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 26, 2011. Bill Haber, Associated Press
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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) celebrates his touchdown pass to wide receiver Robert Meachem in the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 26, 2011. Bill Haber, Associated Press
By Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — Drew Brees has broken the NFL record for yards passing in a season, surpassing a mark that had stood since Dan Marino set it in 1984.

Brees topped Marino's record of 5,084 yards with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Darren Sproles on Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons.

Brees entered the game with 4,780 yards, needing 305 to set the record. He has passed for 300 yards or more an NFL-record 12 times this season — with one game still to play.

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Brees threatened Marino's record once before in 2008, when he finished with 5,069 yards, making him and Marino the only quarterbacks to pass for 5,000 yards in a season.

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